:-) :-)
is the succession of feelings today...
I badlied damage the paint on 3 of my models, here's how it happened :
After the decals, I wanted to apply a layer of flat coat to my sherman.
I decided to airbrush it for the first time (thinking that it would look better, less brush marks...) :-)
I was not sure how to thin the varnish : italeri Model Master Dull Coat
I thinned it with rubbing alcool, I usualy use this for acrylics.
That didn't work, it didn't mix with the varnish.
So I empied the alcool, and added terpentine oil, white spirit.
That looked just fine, well thinned.
So I happily sprayed my sherman, and while I was at it I sprayed my 2 CCKW... :-)
This dried out, leaving tiny white marks on all of the models!!!
I was really wondering what happened, so I asked my friend Kiki.
He said I should try a wash, to see if it will remove the white, or at least make it turn to the wash color...
So I happily tried this : my usual wash of white spirit with humbrol enamel
It looked good when it was wet of course... :-)
Butnow that is dry it is even worse than before! Now the small white spots have turned into big white marks, on almost all of the surface!!! It's like the tank and trucks are out of a snow storm...
:-) :-) :-)

So now I have decided to escalate this to the Armorama board of experts, since Kiki is giving up...
I hope you guys know how to solve this...
What happened? It looks like the varnish reacted with the thinner...
I was not planning to make a snow dio! The sherman is for a normandy dio, the trucks for a red ball express one!!!

Sorry to hear about this - you have a serious problem here.

My recommendation is to spray a very light mist of pure Lacquer Thinner on one spot where the Dullcote is heaviest. Don't perform anymore wash techniques and do not use anymore Alcohol.

Let the test spot sit to air-dry for about 30 minutes and check to see if you've cut through the buildup of Dullcote. If successful, you'll see a gradual decrease of the "whiteness". If not, try another very light mist over that spot again.

Frosting of a model like this often happens with application of too much lacquer Dullcotes - a combination of too heavy, too thick and too fast between coats. Pure Lacquer Thinner can cut down and eliminate this "frosting" due to buildup in most cases - but you have to proceed slowly and be patient. You can also severly damage your model by hastily using this technique.

Wear a respirator or leave a window open too - as you're going to create some fumes in trying to cut through the Dullcote.

Hope this helps you out...

Gunnie

Thanks Jim.

Is it another option to repaint over this?
It would be a shame because of the decals...

Yes - repainting would be a last resort, but you could do this.

Gunnie

Hi Ropi!

Is the flat coat from Tamiya? (Flat base in fact)

If yes your are in trouble!

Jean-Luc

Salut Jean Luc,

No, this is Italeri Model Master Dull Cote. A flat coat that has worked a great deal for me in the past.
But it looks like it can't be used in an airbrush! or at least I did not use the correct thinner...

I know what you thought : You thought I used the Tamiya Flat base, don't you? Well you know what, I did make that mistake on a previous model! Fortulately it was the interior of my dragon wagon, so it is not so visible...

OK, I have made one little try of a home made solution, and so far it looks OK, to be experimented on a bigger scale :

I applied the dull coat again, but this time pure and with a brush. Like I said, only on a small spot, as a try, but it looks really good! I will try applying it to the whole tank and I let you know...

Thanks for the support!

Ropi:

I'm really sorry to learn what happened to your models
and unfortunately, I don't have something to try to
solve the problem.

So you may be saying "well, then why
post a thread".

In my view, there is a larger principal
here that you may not be aware of. It involves the
discipline to not be in a hurry, to think each step thru
and plan ahead just what the correct procedure
should be. That same principal would apply in life,
as well, IMHO. And I'm hoping that
in the future, you will incorporate what I'm going to
mention to you, in your good modeling habits, showing
the discipline required to grow in modelbuilding.

For me, I never try a new approach or technique on
a model that I've put a lot of time into, that I intend to do
my very best work. I always experiment on a piece that
is throwaway or that I keep around just for this kind of
experimenting, such as the kit ship hull I have on the
shelf.

I never want any surprises, in modeling. Save those
for my birthday, if you will.

I want to know from experimenting and learning all
the answers just what is going to happen
when I do it for real. Many modeler fail to
incorporate this valuable — altho time
consuming — step in their modeling discipline.
I hope you'll agree with my contention and that you
will put that aspect of modeling into
your normal routine. Wishing you well,

My friend I feel for you but please do not blame the paint. You.....

A/ used the wrong thinner
and
B/ put the coats on too heavy.

Most paints can be Airbrushed using the correct thinners and ratio of paint to thinners.

Cheers
Cliff

Cliff, what is the correct thinner for that paint?
I am still not clear on this... neither is the paint

Rick, thanks for the good advice.
I guess I am applying the same techniques in modelling than in life,
trying hard, falling down, standing up, and what doesn't kill me makes me stronger!

So it looks like this one is OK :
going back to the basics and applying a stong coat of the initial paint with a brush, is disolving the white bits, and giving a nice rough look.
it's almost like a nice weathering.
This is perfect as the sherman is going on the dragon wagon, as a tank sent to the front lines.

I'll post some pix when I've repainted the whole thing.

Get your hands on Pollys S Scale flat. It is the best there is and I have never had a problem with it.
recon

why would nicoropi had more of a problem with tamiya flat base ?? and what was the mistake useing this on the interior of the dragon wagon ????
await your amswers as i,ve just bought some

Ropi - when I used the Dullcote and Glosscote lacquers, I always thinned them at least 50% with Lacquer Thinner - and airbrushed them.

I never handbrushed them because I use acrylic paints and my finish coats are so thin that the paintbrush would pull the paint away from the model surface.

I have been using Polly Scale Flat, as mentioned above, for a couple of years now and recommend it too. It is superior in performance, very easy to use and gives you consistent results.

About using Tamiya's Flat Base; this is an additive meant to flatten their gloss colors by mixing with them. It is not meant to be sprayed or brushed directly onto a model's painted surface alone - you'll wind up with a mess.

Gunnie